Hope you are all doing well. For those of you who know me I've been on here posting blogs on and off forever. I feel it's time to move on now. It has been great chatting to so many nice people here. I can be reached on other places if you wish to remain in contact.

So I've realised that I need to be more sensible with money. I've never really properly examined my ingoings and outgoings. I've not really checked up on how much I'm paying for things I've signed up to which is really bad.

So I've been looking at all the things I've signed up to and it's like Wow. No wonder I'm skint at the end of the month. Bills, car, phone, Internet ,hellofresh, spotify, times online, union, gym membership, credit card, store card, Netflix, pet insurance. It all adds up.

So I'm now doing the painful task of prioritising. Big learning curve!

The dentist who paid thousands to kill a lion in Zimbabwe. I cannot understand the mentality of someone to kill such a wonderful creature in the prime of it's life. To have it's head stuck up on his wall. To pose for photos with the dead animal. Hunting? Trailing meat on the end of a truck in a national park? That's not hunting. That's like shooting a cow in a field. Why can't he respect and appreciate the creature alive. It's something I just can't understand, Disgusting!

So I went for my first horse riding lesson today. I had a gorgeous girl horse named Pie. I had so much fun. I was learning how to steer the horse, how to stop , how to make her move, how to hold the reins, how to position my feet. Then we had a practice with the gallop. Learning how to stand up and down to the gallop of the horse. That was pretty difficult I have to say. However, it's just my first lesson and Pie was very patient. So I think I'm already hooked. I may end up being a horsey girl. Lol Sorry bank balance.

Has anybody seen this documentary? it's well worth a watch. It is about the story of the killer whales in captivity at these theme parks. I visited one of these parks many years ago in Florida. I watched the killer whale wave and splash me. I was only 10 at the time. Makes me sick now to think I watched that show. So the documentary talks about how the whales were capturared from their mothers. It talks about the poor treatment and living conditions of the whales. It talks about how a baby whale in captivity was taken from its mother and she was making long distance calls for her infant. What kind of company could do that? It talked about the death of trainers often been labelled as accidental and not an aggressive action by the whales however eye witness accounts contradict this. It was ex trainers being interviewed and they were disgusted by the lies they were fed about the animals. It talks about how the whales sometimes attack each other sometimes fatally. The documentary ended with ex trainers seeing wild orcas. No bent thin, no aggression, swimming peacefully with their true family in the wild where they belong.

So I will never visit any of these parks which have creatures like that swimming about in poxy tubs. I think it's disgusting! It should not even be legal.

It is so sad to hear about all the British tourists who were massacred on the beach whilst on holiday in Tunisia. It makes it difficult to want to go there. However if we don't the country will crumble and IS will take over. I don't even fancy the thought of visiting Turkey at the moment. I actually had an awful feeling this year that something like that would happen in Turkey. I'd love to go back to Egypt one day but it wasn't safe when we went the last time. There were no American tourists and little or no security at the attractions. We got armed security on our last stop on the Nile Cruise. I don't think I could depend my life on them.

I recently signed up to this as it looked like an interesting idea. You pay so much a month and you get a box of ingredients with 3 delicious recipies each week. It's been advertised so much in the UK and probably in America too. I've now moved from apprentice chef to sous chef. The meals are quick and easy to make and taste so good. I opted for the vegetarian meals and they have been amazing. Has anyone else signed up to this?

Today I was moving everything in the kids garden. All the nursery equipment is safely stored inside and all the potted vegetables and plants are all moved into a hopefully secure location. Seems so crazy to have to move all that stuff but it all totals up and I'm not having the vandals wrecking it all for the kids this year.

So I completed my half marathon at the Edinburgh Marathon Festival yesterday in 2hrs 7 mins. Not too bad for my first time. I made a mistake not having a bath last night as today's movements have been restricted. I've been hobbling about and stairs are just awful. I guess it's funny to watch. My colleagues have been having a good laugh but they are proud of me.

I do often get annoyed at myself for being this way but I am petrified of spiders. However, I'm getting a little better in dealing with the small ones but the large ones are just out of the question. So today I opened up the garden storage box to get a bag of compost as the nursery children are going to be planting sunflowers tomorrow. So I look up and on the inside of the storage box is this big egg sac. Like 2cm in diameter. Next to it this giant spider. I totally freaked. It's honestly the worst thing I've ever seen. So my anxiety levels were through the roof. No idea what I'm going to do as honestly I can't remove it. So frustrating that im like this. I'm either going to have to ask a neighbour or phone pest control as if that hatches out it would be like an infestation. I don't like to kill things. I just want it removed and placed a million miles away.

So I've been training for the 10 mile Edinburgh Great Run again to raise money for Pancreatic Cancer which will take place this Sunday. I'm actually doing two runs for that charity. The other will be a half marathon in May. So I've been going out on a lot of long haul runs. However today I had my first fall. Skint my hands and leg and my arms are sort of hurt with the impact especially my left elbow. I manned up and kept going. It could have been worse. A friend of mine fell off her bike a couple of weeks ago and she was telling me the first thing she did was to check and hope nobody saw her and secondly check that her phone was working. I had to laugh as I pretty much did the same thing. Priorities right? Lol

3. If you pull over to help a woman whose car has broken down, remember not to rape her.

4. If you are in an elevator and a women gets in, don’t rape her.

5. When you encounter a woman who is asleep, the safest course of action is to not rape her.

6. Never creep into a woman’s home through an unlocked door or window, or spring out at her from between parked cars, or rape her.

7. Remember, people go to the laundry room to do their laundry. Do not attempt to molest someone who is alone in a laundry room.

8. Use the Buddy System! If it is inconvenient for you to stop yourself from raping women, ask a trusted friend to accompany you at all times.

9. Carry a rape whistle. If you find that you are about to rape someone, blow the whistle until someone comes to stop you.

10. Dont forget: Honesty is the best policy. When asking a woman out on a date, don’t pretend that you are interested in her as a person; tell her straight up that you expect to be raping her later. If you don’t communicate your intentions, the woman may take it as a sign that you do not plan to rape her.

I saw this above on a FB post. It was basically a response about a poster campaign the police had launched for women to stay safe. It was quite dramatic as it asked. Which one of your friends is most vulnerable on a night out? However, it was just highlighting the importance of staying safe. Don't wonder off on your own or leave with a stranger. I guess it was an interesting perspective.

I've started watching this program as I kept hearing it was brilliant. It's very addictive. I've watched the first 3 series in about 2-3 weeks. Now I'm onto series 4. I have to say I look away at the brutal parts or suddenly decide it's time to make a cup of tea. Lol Does anyone else watch this program?

I went to see the Banff Mountain Film Festival today. It was amazing! Well worth going to see. It's basically these short film created around mountains. From extreme sports to moving short films. My favourite was called "Tashi and the Monk." It was about a little orphan girl named Tashi who lived at this orphanage in the hills of the Himalayas run by a Buddhist monk. It showed you her journey from a disturbed naughty girl. Her mother died, her father was a severe alcoholic and she would get into fights. She was emotionally broken. This monk was helping to give her and the other children the skills to be good citizens. It really was a moving story. So much so it got me thinking -what an amazing experience it would be to perhaps go over there one summer and help teach the children at the orphanage. I voted for this film on the Banff website. I do hope the film will encourage people to donate to this orphanage. If you want to check out the trailer to the film you just need to search Tashi and the Monk or book up to go see the Festival as it tours across the world.

I went to see this show a few weeks ago and I have to say it is one of the best musicals. It is well worth going to see. Amazing songs, fantastic props and gorgeous costumes. I would love to be one of the dancers on that show in the Emerald city scene.

Well my big brother is going to be 40 in October and he is going over to NYC to celebrate (Jealous Much). So I've been thinking of giving him a gift related to that. I was thinking on the lines of booking a meal for him and his wife at a really nice restaurant. Would be great to go for somewhere amazing that has a spectacular view. Something really special. Any recommendations? Or if not that any experiences days or tours you recommend.? I know there are loads of websites related to this but it is better getting the opinion of locals.Budget wise as I'm just a teacher- £200 so think that's around $300. Well according to google.

The other week I took part in this run called- Colour Me RAD. Basicially the run involved being sprayed with powdered colour so by the end of the run you are a bit like a rainbow. I have to say it was a good laugh and all for a good cause.

I also got nominated for the ice bucket challenge which I completed earlier this week. I now have the cold. Boo!

Every time I look at the news lately I keep asking myself what is happening to this world. Seems like humanity is falling apart. So much violence and destruction and for what gain? I really do feel sorry for the innocent people caught up in all this mess. Makes you realise how lucky we really are. The troubles we have home in the UK or in the USA are nothing in comparison to what others have to deal with. Puts things into perspective.